Full Sail Top Sail Imperial Porter Bourbon Barrel Aged

Formerly brewed at Full Sail Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
Hood River, Oregon USA

Poured an opaque black color with a brown edge to it and tan head. The aroma was sweet and roasty with notes of both vanilla and chocolate. The flavor was of roasted malt. Semi-sweet with a mild bitterness The bourbon effect was light in the flavor. Light to medium body.

Black with a thin tan head. Aroma is heavy bourbon, chocolate, oak, alcohol, light caramel. Taste is heavy bourbon which overshadows the chocolate sweetness, and roastiness of the beer, alcohol show mildly. Too much bourbon.

Bottle shared by dickensonbeer. Dark black beer with a thick brown head. Aroma is quite nice. Sweet and very rich. Loaded with a light salty sweetness, dark chocolate with a soft charry roastiness on the back. There is a bit of caramel sweetness in back and some subtle bourbony character. It’s good, but a bit understated really.

<b>In short: </b>A very good porter despite its extra-strong Bourbon Barrel character.
<b>How: </b>Bottle 22oz. Many bottles from many sources, this one from kmweaver, thanks a lot ken. Consumed when about 8 months old.
<b>The look: </b>Black body topped by a small tan head
<b>In long: </b>Bourbon barrel dominates the nose. Taste blends black chocolate, vanilla, bourbon barrels, black jelly beans. Medium roastiness. As it is the case with many bourbon barrel beers the barrels tend to slim out the body and make the alcohol apparent. Body is a by slimy with a slight tar sensation. Hops are very discreet, once again a typical characteristic barrel aged beers. I usually prefer the barrel integration to be a bit more subtle but this brew turned out to be pretty darn good. I liked it a lot even if I wouldn’t drink 6 bottles of it in a row, I’d drink this beer until she’s cute but I’d stop before the wedding.

Duane shared a 22 oz bottle with me - thanks! Black pour with a slightly dark-mocha colored head. Bourbon, vanilla oak tannins, and a strong roasted malt presence in the aroma. The bourbon was the flavor that really dominated this beer. 10 months may have been a bit long to age this in the barrels. Still, this beer had good complexity - bourbon, oak, some vanilla and chocolate, and a nice roasted malt presence. Medium bodied. Very good!

Bomber, 2008 vintage. Poured healthy deep brown with a swirly dusting of tan head. The aroma picked up a delectable blend of sweet bourbon, sour oak, coffee, and dark chocolates.. spicy uptick on the back. The flavor opened with almost syrupy dark malts backed by a wash of sour oak and bourbon.. coffee and chocolate at the core.. spicy on the back with oaky notes, peppery alcohol, and well-roasted espresso. Heavier-bodied and warm on the palate.. thick and stickier at some points and slicker at others with only OK coordination between the two. All in all a very good brew.

(22 oz. bottle (2008) via trade with pantanap, thanks Kan!) Chocolate, bourbon and alcohol...Pours very dark brown with a thin tan head. Aroma of dark sweet chocolate, dark stewed fruits, bourbon, molasses and wood . Mouthfeel is fairly smooth and fairly soft, a bit milk-shakey. Lightly fizzy. Nicer palate than the non-BA version. Light dabs and a light syrupy film comprise the lacing. Flavor of dark semi-bitter chocolate, lightly burnt in the fore followed by lots of bourbon and lots of ABV presence. Other notes of wood, vanilla, coffee roast and stewed fruits. Kind of heavy-handed and not a real easy-drinker but better than the regular Imp Porter.

Nice. Super dark and creamy. Viscous with legs. Bourbon, vanilla, oak, strong with lots of alcohol present. Sweet and roasty. A bit warming and not that smooth.